The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-12-10

As Ella chose to retire early when
ever he called. Mr.. Slocomb frequent
had to console himself with the com
pany of MI. Delaporte, and that gen
tleman. having little else to do, wa
quite willing to talk at the visitor, I'm
til he had talked himself into adrowse
when the caller usually took the op
portunity to depart.
Now, the old housekeeper of Mr.
Delaporte had the exceedingly bat
habit-in a woman-of smoking, ant
the still worse habit of smoking in bed,
the only time at which she dared tt
indulge the practice. For years she
had been careful to put out the pipe
before going to sleep; but as age crep'
upon her, she grew careless, and the
pipe was often allowed to burn Itself
out on the table near the bed.
One night, at about ten o'clock, Mr..
Delaporte was just dropping into q
doze, and his remarks to Mr.. Slocomb
were becoming merged in an unintelli-
gible muttering, when the cry Of
'Fire!'' aroused both of them to wake
fulness and energy.
The cry came from the street. They
both ran out. A passer-by. who had
given the alarm, pointed to the second
story Of Mr.. Delaporte's house.
A thick cloud of smoke was rolling
from the window of the room occupied
by the housekeeper Elias room was
in the attic above.
my daughter! My daughter..'
shouted the old man in agony. "Ah,
who will save my daughterp'
"Oh, my daughter is up there!' he
cried, turning to Mr.. Slocomb and
pointing to the attic. 20 h, save her!
Save hertz
Mr.. Slocomb stood i~rresolutc. His
cheeks blanched. He took a step for
ward, as if he would rush upstairs.
Then he stopped, and saying:
81 will go after assistance" he
turned and ran down the street.
Mr.. Delaporte was about to dash
into the house, to rescue his daughter
at any hazard, when Ella, aroused by
the cries. appeared at the window of
her room, in her night dress, with a
coverlet wrapped around her.
Don't come upstairs, father!' she
exclaimed. Il can hear the crackle
of the flames in the entry. My DOORS
and will keep the fire out a mo-
ment!'
That instant q thin wreath of smoke
tloated over Elias head out into the
night air, just as a tongue of flame
darted from the window below. Not
a second was to be lost, if the girls
life was to be saved. As for the house.
she must long ago have been
'l'ather, I'll jump" Ella almost
shrieked, as she saw her agonized
again about to rush into the
building.
There was a stamp of approaching
steps on the street and the rumble of
wheels.
Don't jump! Don't jump!'' shouted
\ manly voice. and in an instant q
shot past Mr.. Delaporte and in
the house.
Holding a handkerchief to his
mouth and nose as he ran, Jack
it was he-mounted the |
stairs, two and three steps at a time.
trough the binding smoke. The fire
lad followed the balustrade from the
second story, but the stairs were still
irm.
At the top of the staircase q sheet
If flame swept across the narrow pas
sage, as if to bar the brave ireman's
way. With the handkerchief close
over mouth, n~ostrils and eyes,
lie dashed through the fire and felt
With the disengaged hand for the
knob Of the door. With one power
III push it was open, and he could
for a moment, while the
'moke surged in with and after HIM.
All this happened within a moment
II so-a shorter time than the V
las taken to glance through these
ines.
Jack did not speak. He had no
pare breath or time. lie took Ella as
as the vital re.d of haste would
permit, pulled the coverlet over her
lead and face, held her in one arm,
the handkerchief TO his own
ace again with the other, and darted
lown the stairs and to the outside. |
lie fell, with his precious burden, on
he sidewalk. half conscious, but not
.eriously hurt.
Cheer after cheer rang out on the
light air as the brave captain of the
emerged from the burning
with Ella in his arms, and a
core of willing hands fastened TO x
inguish the fire that smoldered in his
garments and was prcying on the COW
rlct that had protected Ella from
mOke and flame.
MI. D.laportc's house was not
aved. but tho tiremcn. by energetic
n III l